Estêvão da Gama (16th century)
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Estêvão da Gama (c.1505 - 1576) was the Portuguese governor of India (1540 - 1542). He was the second son of Vasco da Gama and brother of Christovão da Gama, and named after his paternal grandfather Estevão da Gama.
He commanded the fleet that entered the Red Sea, with the intent of attacking the Ottoman fleet in its harbor at Suez, leaving Goa December 31, 1540 and reaching Aden January 27, 1541. The fleet reached Massawa February 12, where da Gama left a number of ships and continued north. Reaching Suez, he discovered that the Ottomen long known of his raid, and foiled his attempt to burn the beached ships. Da Gama was forced to retrace his steps to Massawa, although pausing to attack the port of Tor on the Sinai Peninsula.
Once back at Massawa da Gama found the men he left restless and convinced by the self-described patriarch John Bermudez that they should provide military assistance to the beleaguered Emperor of Ethiopia. Da Gama submitted to their demands, and landed 400 men, 130 military slaves, and sufficient supplies for them at Massawa and the nearby port of Arqiqo under the charge of his brother Christovão, before departing for India July 9.
